Chapter 2: The Human Tomato

Abigail’s POV

I left the screaming kids and the smell of old books at my library shift in the late afternoon. Momma texted me she “needed a smoke after such a long day” and I knew I’d be better off not coming home than coming home without a pack of cigarettes.

James was working, as usual, at the tiny convenience store that indeed was always convenient for me; always stocked with dirt-cheap drinks, just ten minutes from home, and my best friend was almost always there.

James always seemed so different working the counter. He covered his tattoo either with a sweater, hoodie, or the best concealer the beauty supply store carries. He hid his sarcastic charm around the strangers with a generic “yes, sir!” or “have a wonderful afternoon!”

“Abbyyyyyyy!” He greeted me when I stepped in. “How’s your birthday been?”

“It’s been alright. I could use a drink. And I just want to nap at home with my cat.”

“Which one, crazy cat lady?” James teased me.

“Hah, you’re a jerk.” I laughed, but a part of me was worried he had a point. Can you be a “crazy cat lady” when you’re only in your 20’s? I brushed the thought aside.

“Anyway, James, I’m off to get something to unwind with later for myself. I’ll ask you for Momma’s cigarettes when I get back.” I walked to the wine section and gravitated right to the yellow sale tag. A boxed wine in a purple bottle with a name I’ve never heard of was on sale for 25% off.

Upon arriving back to James, a small line was forming, which was rarer than a snowstorm in the South, considering we barely had enough people in the entire town to form a full line.

An elderly man hovered over James at the counter, his sausage fingers pointing inches from his face. Behind him stood a very tall, tan woman with a six-pack of beer. She was rolling her eyes. I hoped James wasn’t going to have more than one angry customer in one day.

“I told you twice already! It says I get 60 cents off my next purchase!” The man was buying toothpaste. The rest of his items on the counter were a single can of beer, chips, and a small pint of ice cream. It sounded like the perfect evening for a lonely and bitter man.

“Sir, I’m sorry. But the coupon is for another brand –” James started.

“Ain’t this the same box that’s on the coupon?” The man slid the package of toothpaste across the counter closer to James.

“Yes, sir, it is, but –”

The man grimaced as if he’d never been told the word “no” in his entire life. “But what? Gimme my discount already!”

James sighed. “Sir, if you look at the fine print on the coupon –”

“You think I don’t know how to read?”

“No, sir,” James continued what he wanted to say before. “I’m just trying to show you that, unfortunately, this coupon only applies to the whitening brand.”

The man turned into a bloated, enraged tomato now. "This is f*cking asinine!" He crumbled the coupon in a perfect ball in his greasy hands and threw it at James. It hit James in the cheek. He stood there stunned, unable to process all the commotion over 60 cents.

Before the tomato man could further his temper tantrum, the woman behind him screamed “Alright, that’s enough!” Her voice was deep and commanding.

“’Scuse me, was I talking to you?” The man turned to her. He barely stood an inch or two above her. He was big, but mostly fat. She made up for her two shorter inches in her broad shoulders and toned arms.

“Nope, but you were talking very rudely to my cousin here. And if you don’t cut the sh*t and be on your way we’re going to have a problem.”

I went through my memories of James and tried to come up with a time he ever mentioned having a tall, mysterious cousin with dark hair and a luscious voice.

I watched the human-tomato’s eyes travel around her biceps. The redness in his face faded just slightly. I could tell he was finally using that little brain in his head after years of non-use to consider if he should get into a fight with this woman or not.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said leave, jacka**.” She walked closer to him, forcing him to back up and inch closer to the door.

“Ah whatever, you ain’t worth my time anyway.” He threw his toothpaste on the floor and left.

With the human-tomato gone, a softness came across the woman's strong jawline and previously fiery eyes. James spoke to her first.

“Oh my God, thank you so much miss. He was driving me crazy!" He slumped into the counter a bit, finally able to relax.

Her eyes were so dark they may as well have been black. They slanted upward when she smiled wide.

“Aw, it’s no problem. I can’t stand these idiot customers. I know what it’s like to work in retail.” She placed her six-pack on the counter.

I joined in their conversation. “James, you didn’t tell me you had a cool cousin.”

“Um, I don’t,” James replied. We both stared at this woman, dumbfounded.

The woman smiled wider and laughed so loud her shoulders bounced. “Hah! I use that family line all the time when I meet nasty customers. It always freaks them out!”

“Oh, that’s great!” James laughed. “Anyway, how about the beer on me? As a thank you. Just don’t tell my boss.” He winked and slid it back to her across the counter.

"Thanks!" She grabbed her six-pack.

James turned back to me. “Abby, yours is on the house too since it’s your birthday.”

The woman’s deep eyes traveled to the box of wine in my hand. “If it’s your birthday, we gotta pick something way better for you than that.” She ushered me to follow her. “Follow me, birthday girl.”

I blushed when she acknowledged me. James whispered “Oooooooooh!” as I walked by him to follow this mysterious stranger, and I elbowed him in the arm.